Newcastle Add Fifth Preseason Fixture – Another Game In Germany

Newcastle United have followed up with their announcement of yesterday that they were planning a second fixture in Germany for preseason.

The club have just announced the lads would be playing against Mainz 05 on Saturday, July 29th with a 4:00 pm local kick off time.

Newcastle will play in the Opel Arena in Mainz.

34,000 capacity Opel Stadium in Mainz Here’s the announcement made by the club earlier today:

Newcastle United will face Bundesliga side 1. FSV Mainz 05 in a pre-season fixture next month, it has been confirmed.

Rafa Benitez’s side will travel to Germany to take on Mainz on Saturday, 29th July, with the game kicking off at 4pm local time (CEST).

It will take place at the 34,000-capacity Opel Arena, home of Sandro Schwarz’s side, and will be the first of two pre-season trips to Germany for the Magpies, who will also play VfL Wolfsburg away from home on Wednesday, 2nd August.

Ticket details will be announced in due course.

So we seem to be getting there with the preseason fixtures – there are five games already lined up and we should have one more – a home game on Saturday 5th August with hopefully a top European club visiting St. James’ Park.

The Premier League will start the following Saturday on 12th August when we play Tottenham Hotspur at home.

Yeah I think we could have a solid season with a few quality additions and some younger prospects – maybe a couple of one season wonders in the twilight of their careers etc. If I was choosing I’d definitely plump for quality over quantity – we need to stop getting lumbered carrying the deadwood…

KEEPERS:

Krul – It’s now or never for Tim if Rafa doesn’t want him as #1 he should be sold. Darlow – I would say he is good on his day but I still lack confidence in him – Him or Krul need to go though. Elliott – Probably more happy to stay and play second fiddle and good enough when required Selz – Loaned out. Woodman – Needs a full season on loan at a good level – Championship would be ideal.

Verdict – Unless Rafa has confidence in Krul/Darlow to cement #1 then we should replace 1 or both of them. It’s impossible to know which is best because of the past few years of injuries for Krul & Elliot. As many others have said I think GK is a fairly safe position for us – granted we’re not talking world class players but all three of the main choices are PL standard.

FULL BACKS

LEFT

Dummett – The best of an average bunch – a solid PL squad player though definitely worth keeping – provides CB cover too. Lazaar – Honestly haven’t seen enough to judge – If he’s not good enough for the Champ then surely he’s not cut out for the PL? Haidara – Came in with lots of promise and at times looks composed and confident but needs a full season to show what he can do and I cant see that being in the PL with NUFC.

Verdict: I think LB is definitely an area we should look to re-enforce in the next few windows – Dummett will do a more than adequate job but offers very little in an attacking sense which we could really use. Lazaar I guess needs some game time so a loan or sale seems the best move – Haidara could still make it but will he get enough match time to do so playing second fiddle to Dummett?

RIGHT

Gamez – Signed seemingly for competition and squad bulking but Lil Vurn was in front of him in the team selection for most of the season – needs to be moved on. Yedlin – So close to being a very good player – needs more coaching but I think he could be a great player for us. Sterry – Clearly rated by the staff so should be in the squad to provide to competition to Yedlin this season, players never break through without chances! (Perhaps this would’ve been Mbabu had we not just sold him)

Verdict: Yedlin is the obvious starter and is good enough however we do need depth in all positions and Gamez IMO should be moved on to make room for that depth. Sterry should be loaned out unless the staff have enough confidence in him to potentially play large parts of the season should Yedlin pick up a serious knock.

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

Lascelles – Had a solid season playing through the pain barrier – surely can only get better? Clark – Possibly the signing of the season – total rock in the team – deserves the PL chance! Mbemba – My favourite of our CB’s – cool calm and comfortable in posession – I really hope we can get him more involved this season – Could do a great job in the DM role too! Hanley – Again a solid championship player – seems to be on his way back there – so will need replacing.

Verdict: I think the three CB’s we have (assuming Hanley leaves) would do a solid job in the PL but If we are signing any CB’s they either need to be Better than the three we have or young prospects to bulk up the back up options. Lejeune is presumably coming in to give us 4 first team CB’s which should be enough unless we are looking at prospects. Dummett can also cover at CB so we would have 5 options.

WINGERS

LEFT:

Atsu – Can play on both wings and is good enough to do damage in the PL but is he consistent enough or just better as an impact sub? Gouffran – Has been offered a contract so can only assume we want him for a year or two while we build in the PL – he’s not an exciting player but he works hard and will give 100% – Shouldn’t be more than a squad player though. Aarons – Has some serious raw talent and pace, something we really lack it will all depend on his fitness but I’d love to see him cement the #11 spot by the end of the season.

Verdict: I think we’re pretty weak in the Left wing department – we can’t rely on these three this season – I would say any player coming in for this position needs to be good enough to be first choice. Aarons has the potential but needs an injury free season to show what he can do, Atsu has the opportunity to prove he can cut it in the PL but he is pretty inconsistent. This would be a priority position if I was in Rafa’s shoes.

RIGHT:

Ritchie – I think most fans would agree he is up there with the first names on the sheet so Its a case of bringing in cover / competition for him.

Verdict: He is hard working and industrious so perhaps a pacey/flair player would be a good option to provide the cover/competition for the RW position. Atsu can cover here and I’m sure Gayle/ Yedlin would be able to cover running the channels but we definitely need another RW option in during this window imo.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS:

Hayden – A great breakthrough season for us – I’d be confident in him doing a job in the PL. Colback – I think he has shown he isn’t quite up to PL standard and even struggled at times last season. Saivet – Never really had a chance to show what he can do but If not good enough sell or loan out again. Shelvey – Not defensive but deep lying – the puppet-master we need a foil for him and cover but definite starter.

Verdict: Arguably you could move on both Colback and Saivet freeing up space for probably 2 more deeper lying midfielders. I think that 1 CM is an essential and a second ‘hot prospect’ would give us 4 providing healthy competition and cover. Shelvey and Hayden are guaranteed starters from what we have at present though imo.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS:

Diame – Much like Yaya Toure but worse – a lethargic unit that occasionally turns it on – Needs moving on IMO Perez – All the talent in the world, needs a consistent and focused run in the starting 11 – Make or Break. Dejong – Started the recovery well last season – can he contribute for us in the PL? I’m not so sure…

Verdict: I think the no #10 position is critical to getting Rafa’s system to work I dont think any of the three existing players are good enough although of the 3 I think Perez is best and I would love to see him really rediscover his form this season. If we are breaking the bank to sign one player this season I would love to see a highly creative #10 brought in to make us tick. I would say its a priority position to add to as imo Diame and De Jong should be on the way out.

STRIKERS:

Mitrovic – I think its the make or break season for Mitro – he has a lot to offer but his finishing needs to improve. Gayle – Has earned his chance to spearhead a PL team – is he good enough? Maybe… Murphy – Did what he was bought to do – will most likely move on… Armstrong – needs another season in the championship as a starting 11 player – would love him to make the jump just not sure he’s quite ready Riviere – I can’t see him getting any chances although barring his finishing he looked like he could’ve been a good player strong and quick but expect him to be sold.

Verdict: Assuming we are going to be playing with just 1 up top 3/4 strikers in the squad is plenty but if we lose Murphy Riviere and Armstrong heads out on loan we will have just 2 in Mitro and Gayle. A third will be required and possibly a 4th, maybe a younger prospect or veteran? I think we should be looking to bring in a striker who has the quality to be the best at the club.

I think there’s plenty to be positive about and a few in and out soon starts to improve the squad. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out…

League Placement

health update

I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in February 2017 and completed four months of chemotherapy in late July and will continue to have hormone treatment.

The cancer spread in the bones but it has been stabilized and has not spread further.

I am still recovering from some of the side effects of the chemo treatment - it's mainly severe fatigue and exhaustion.

Stage 4 cancer is not curable so I will continue to have cat scans and bone scans every four months to ensure the cancer is not spreading.

It is as it is - these things happen - and I will do my very best under the circumstances.

Ed Harrison

Comments

The purpose of the comments is to allow Newcastle United fans and others to express their views on the news of the day concerning the Newcastle United Football Club.

In general, we'd ask you to be civil towards other readers and refrain from obscene language and any comments on religion, ethnic groups or politics.

The key to all of this is to be respectful to other readers in expressing your opinion.

Please let's make this work - and let's help the Newcastle United Football Club become great again.

That's all we ask, and why we created this site in the first place back in 2007.

Ed Harrison

Kacper Tylenda Website Designer

One of our avid readers Kacper Tylenda from Poland was the person who came in during April, 2017 and redesigned this web-site from top to bottom.

We think he did a fantastic job to modernize the site with the roll-out on Thursday May 18th surprisingly smooth.

I am so appreciative of his help.

Kacper is starting his own business in web-design so if you want a website built or know of people who want to redo their sites in any way – here’s his portfolio.

football club

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.